School news

Mecklenburg

Davidson Elementary: The following Davidson Elementary students earned perfect scores on November’s Math Olympiad Challenge:

•  Fifth grade: Albert Bright, Haley Frye, Marshall Graham, Grant Mayes, Ariana Conway.

•  Fourth grade: Warner Allred, Alexander Green, Andrew Feira, Graham Kirby, Nikolaus Heiser, Peter Stenger.

Worldwide, only seven percent of fifth graders and three percent of fourth graders accomplish perfect scores.

Ridge Road Middle, Metrolina Regional Scholars’ Academy: Ridge Road Middle was one of three regional winners in the third annual Justice Iredell Middle School Mock Trial Tournament held on Dec. 7. Sponsored by the Law-Related Education Advisory Committee of the N.C. Bar Association Foundation, the mock trials utilized 10 courthouses and 15 courtrooms at 10 locations across N.C.

Metrolina Regional Scholar’s Academy scored fourth highest. Both schools will advance to state finals on Jan. 11 at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary.

Trinity Episcopal School: In partnership with Mecklenburg Ministries, Trinity Episcopal will host an evening with noted anti-racist writer and educator Tim Wise as part of Trinity’s campaign to raise awareness about racial inequity and social justice. The event will be held on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. RSVP at www.tescharlotte.org/TimWise.

Ballet students: Charlotte-area intermediate and advanced ballet students are invited to audition for the School of American Ballet’s 2013 Summer Course. The auditions will be Jan. 13, noon-4 p.m., at North Carolina Dance Theatre, 701 North Tryon St., with the following age breakdowns:

• noon -2 p.m., 12-14 year olds.

• 2-4 p.m., 15-18 year olds.

Details: www.sab.org or call the School of American Ballet at 212-769-6600.

McCallie School, Chattanooga: Senior John Crum has been inducted into the McCallie Chapter of the Cum Laude Society, based on exceptional academic achievement. John is a boarding student and is the son of Mike and Kelly Crum of Charlotte.

Union

Monroe High: The band is selling Discount Cards for use at 18 area businesses through January 2013 for $10. For purchases or details call or text 704-221-1241.

Health champion: Lindsay Jones was recently presented a $500 Subway Restaurants School Health Champion award. Jones, coordinator of student fitness and wellness for Union County Public Schools, received the recognition for demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing school programs designed to improve the health of students and staff. She will use the award to purchase CPR training equipment for middle and high school students.

Order of the Long Leaf Pine: Retired Superintendent Dr. Ed Davis and former teacher and Board of Education member Carolyn Lowder have been awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest civilian honors the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

The award is presented in recognition of a proven record of service or achievement. District Court Judge Tripp Helms presented the award Dec. 12 on behalf of N.C. Governor Bev Perdue.

Sun Valley Elementary: The school, part of the Global Schools Network, recently hosted a roundtable with education and business leaders. Sponsored by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina State Board of Education and the N.C. Global Schools network, the initiative focused on global education, innovations in N.C. public schools, public/private collaboration and included remarks about the GSN by Union County Public Schools Superintendent Mary Ellis and N.C. Superintendent June Atkinson.

York

Clover Middle: Sixth grade science teacher Morgan Lombardo has been named the 2012 Conservation Teacher of the Year by the York Soil and Water Conservation District and York County Farm Bureau.

Lombardo has spearheaded developments of a campus memorial garden and further expansion of the garden into an outdoor classroom. She also has received the Conservation District’s Arbor Day tree grant and was selected as the 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.

Clover High: Members of Clover’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter recently attended the National Fall Leadership Conference in Charlotte. The 13-member group networked with 2,500 students from across the U.S. and learned about new technologies, innovations and leadership development.

• The school’s Future Farmers of America Equine Evaluation Team placed first in the state competition on Dec. 1 at Clemson University’s horse farm.

In the state high individual, Courtney Barnett placed first and Kenedi McDonald placed third. Coached by staff member Carrie Bolin, the team evaluated horses, identified tack, feed and horse anatomy and developed solutions for a proposed team problem.

Grigg’s Road Elementary: Grigg’s Road first- and second-graders recently performed their Winter Concert for 350 parents and community members. The 140 students were directed by music teacher Keisha Pendergrass, with assistance from first- and second-grade and related arts teachers.

Sunset Park Elementary: Kindergarten teacher Katy Sheppard was selected as Distinguished Teacher of Reading for the Rock Hill, York, Lancaster, Chester and Clover school districts by the Palmetto Chapter of the International Reading Association.

Rock Hill High: Science teacher Wally Blankenship has received the 2012 Rock Hill Tree Commission Award for his tree planting work at the school.

Cabarrus

Cannon School: The school will offer the Princeton Review SAT Prep Course for area public, independent and homeschooled students in grades 11 and 12.

The course will run from Jan. 26 through Mar. 2. Details and registration at www.cannonschool.org/satprep.

• Students donated and wrapped over 910 gifts for underprivileged local children during the school’s annual Project Wrap-In.

Project coordinators were upper school students Mary Margaret Campbell, Diana Dale, Jake Flynn, Tory Foster, Claire Fromke, Carolyn Hynes, Bruna Liborio, Lydia Middleton, Dana Norton, Tias Sen, Juliana Sirois, Christina Stylianou, Brooke Wurzburger and Haley Todd, upper school service learning coordinator.

Governor’s school: Forty-four juniors and seniors have been nominated for the Governor’s Schools of North Carolina. Criteria for selection to the summer program includes grades, teacher recommendations, test scores and auditions for performing and visual arts areas.

The following is a list of students by subject area:

•  Mathematics: Samon BenrashidNorthwest Cabarrus; Caitlin Lawrence, Central Cabarrus; Alexis Oriole, Jay M. Robinson; Carrie Storch Northwest Cabarrus; Kyle Bachner, Jay M. Robinson; Katherine Iacovelli, Jay M. Robinson.

•  Natural Science: Shubham Patel, Mount Pleasant; Kortney Wager, Hickory Ridge; James Stahl, Northwest Cabarrus; Jerome Jacob, Jay M. Robinson; Nicholas McNiffe, Jay M. Robinson; Abigail Selph; Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College; Brianna Misenheimer, Hickory Ridge; Claire Christopher, Northwest Cabarrus.

•  Social Science: Simone Gaddy, Central Cabarrus; Stephen Larson, Cox Mill; James Sheridan, Jay M. Robinson; Jack Miller; Northwest Cabarrus; Harrison, Reiff Concord.

•  English: Macey Fairchild, Hickory Ridge; Sarah Aldridge; Concord; Andrew Baughman, Cox Mill; Colten Redmond, Mount Pleasant.

•  French: Carley McAlarney, Jay M. Robinson.

Northwest Cabarrus High: Twenty four freshman and sophomores recently participated in the East Peak Challenge, a ropes course in Rockwell, N.C. The students rode the zip line, took part in team building exercises and completed a 35-foot ropes course.

Compiled by Cindy Stern